How to Get a Security Job

Check whether you meet common entry-level security requirements

The first step is simple: read the job posting closely and compare it with your situation. Many entry-level security jobs are open to people who have never worked in security before, but employers still set basic requirements.

For example, Allied Universal lists these requirements for some security officer roles:

• A high school diploma or equivalent
• Age 18 or older
• Customer service and communication skills
• Basic computer skills

These requirements can vary by employer and location. A smaller company may ask for something different. A job at a hospital, office building, store, or gated property may also have site-specific rules.

Before applying, ask yourself:

• Do I meet the minimum age requirement?
• Do I have a high school diploma or equivalent?
• Can I speak clearly with visitors, employees, customers, and supervisors?
• Am I comfortable writing basic reports?
• Can I use email, a phone, and simple computer systems?
• Can I work the hours listed, including nights, weekends, or holidays if required?

Security work often includes more customer contact than people expect. You may greet visitors, answer questions, check identification, write down incidents, or explain site rules. Being calm and polite can matter as much as previous job experience.

If you don't meet one requirement, don't assume every security job is closed to you. Check several postings. Requirements are not always the same.

Understand what training and licensing may be required

Employer training and government licensing are two different things.

Employer training teaches you how to do the job at a particular company or location. It may cover topics such as site rules, emergency procedures, access control, report writing, and how to respond to common problems.

Licensing is a legal requirement set by the state, city, or other local authority. It may be required before you work as a security guard, or you may need to complete parts of the process after being hired. The exact rule depends on where you live.

That means you shouldn't rely on a nationwide checklist. Search for the official licensing authority in your state or area and check the current requirements before you apply.

A security guard application may require items such as:

• A completed application
• An application fee
• Proof that fingerprints were completed
• Proof that you are at least 18
• Information about criminal convictions

Those requirements don't apply in exactly the same way everywhere. Some locations may have extra steps, different forms, or different rules about when you need approval.

Ask these questions before accepting a job

When you speak with a recruiter or hiring manager, ask:

1. Do I need a security license before starting?
2. Does the company help with the application or training?
3. Who pays for required training, fingerprints, or fees?
4. Can I begin work while my license is being processed?
5. What training is required after I am hired?

This can save you from accepting a job and then discovering that you still need paperwork or approval before you can work.

Allied Universal is one recognizable example of an employer that says it trains security officers with no previous experience. Its process includes onboarding and training for the specific site where you'll work. That doesn't mean every employer follows the same process, so confirm the details for each opening.

Choose between unarmed, contract, and other entry-level security roles

Your first security job doesn't need to be a highly specialized position. For many applicants, the clearest starting point is an unarmed security guard or security officer role.

Unarmed work may involve watching entrances, checking access, walking through a property, monitoring activity, helping visitors, and reporting problems. The exact duties depend on the site.

You may also see contract security jobs. In this setup, a security company hires and assigns you to protect a client’s property. The client might be an office, store, apartment complex, warehouse, school, or another facility. Your employer is the security company, but your daily work happens at the client’s location.

Other openings may involve more specialized duties. These could have added experience, training, or licensing requirements. Read the posting carefully instead of assuming that all security jobs have the same entry path.

For someone asking about the easiest security job to get, entry-level unarmed guard positions are often the most practical place to look. They can be more accessible to people without prior security work because some employers provide basic onboarding and site training. Still, “easiest” depends on local licensing rules, the employer, the schedule, and the site.

Choose a role that fits your current position:

• Unarmed guard: Often a reasonable first target for someone with no security background.
• Contract security officer: A common route through a security company that serves several clients.
• Site-specific entry-level role: May involve a particular setting, such as a building, store, or property.
• Specialized role: May require more training, experience, or legal approval.

Don't apply only to jobs with the most impressive title. Your first goal is to get a realistic entry point and learn how the work operates.

How to get a security job with no experience

You can start without previous security work, but you need to show that you can handle the basic demands of the job.

Focus on experience that proves you are dependable, alert, and comfortable dealing with people. That might include work in retail, customer service, hospitality, parking, reception, warehouse operations, or event support. Volunteer work and school activities can also help if they show responsibility or communication skills.

When applying, make these points clear:

• You can follow instructions and site rules.
• You arrive on time and can work the posted schedule.
• You stay calm during difficult conversations.
• You can speak with the public in a respectful way.
• You can write clear notes about what happened.
• You are willing to complete required training and licensing steps.

If you have no experience at all, look for postings that say entry-level, training provided, or no previous security experience required. Allied Universal security jobs with no experience are one example of this kind of hiring route, since the company says it provides onboarding and site-specific training.

That training doesn't remove every requirement. You may still need to meet age, education, computer, licensing, fingerprint, or background-related rules. It also doesn't promise that you'll be hired. You still need to complete the application and show that you're a good fit for the opening.

Prepare a security-focused resume and application

Your resume doesn't need to be long. It needs to make the right details easy to find.

Start with a short profile that matches the job. For example:

> Dependable customer service worker with strong communication skills, basic computer experience, and an interest in entry-level security work. Available for flexible shifts and willing to complete required training.

Only use statements that are true. Then focus your work history on useful, transferable skills.

Instead of writing only:

> Cashier, local store

You could describe relevant duties like:

• Helped customers and answered questions
• Followed store procedures
• Handled difficult situations calmly
• Used a computer-based checkout system
• Reported problems to a supervisor
• Worked scheduled shifts reliably

Don't claim that customer service experience is the same as security experience. Explain how it prepares you for the job.

In the application, answer questions carefully. If the employer asks about availability, be honest. If you can work only certain hours, say so. Security companies need people who can actually cover the shifts listed.

Keep copies of information you submit, including past employers, dates, addresses, and references. A rushed application with missing details can slow the process.

Apply to security employers and search for local openings

Search in more than one place. Look at security company career pages, general job boards, local listings, and the career pages of large employers that may use on-site security staff.

Useful search terms include:

• Entry-level security officer
• Unarmed security guard
• Security guard no experience
• Security officer training provided
• Security jobs near me
• Allied Universal security jobs no experience

Read the full posting before applying. Look for the work location, schedule, pay information, required qualifications, and licensing language. A job may sound entry-level but still require a license before the start date.

Apply to several openings that match your eligibility. One application is rarely enough to build a job search. A company may fill one site quickly, change the schedule, or decide that another applicant better fits that particular assignment.

Keep a simple list with:

• Employer name
• Job title
• Location
• Date you applied
• Contact details
• Any interview or follow-up date

If a recruiter contacts you, be ready to explain why you want security work, what schedule you can work, and whether you can complete required training or licensing steps.

Be careful with any employer that asks for unclear payments or refuses to explain the job, worksite, or hiring process. Ask for details before handing over personal information or money.

What to expect from onboarding and site-specific training

Getting hired is often the start of the learning process, not the end.

During onboarding, you may complete company paperwork, review workplace rules, and learn about your role. You may also receive instructions about uniforms, scheduling, reporting, and communication with supervisors.

Site-specific training focuses on the place where you'll work. A guard at an office building won't follow every same procedure as a guard at a store or apartment property. You'll need to learn details such as:

• Which entrances are open
• Who is allowed into restricted areas
• How visitors are checked in
• Where to report incidents
• How to contact a supervisor
• What to do during an emergency
• How to write and submit reports

Take notes. Ask questions when an instruction isn't clear. Small details matter in security work, and guessing can cause problems.

You may also need to complete licensing steps separately from company training. Keep track of forms, fingerprint proof, fees, and approval notices. Ask the employer which items it handles and which items you must complete yourself.

How to start building a longer-term security career

Once you have an entry-level role, pay attention to the skills that make you more useful at a site. Show up reliably, follow procedures, write clear reports, and communicate well with supervisors and the public.

You don't need to decide your entire career before your first shift. Start by learning what parts of the work suit you. You may prefer a quiet access-control post, a busy customer-facing site, or work that involves more movement and observation.

Your next step could involve a different site, more responsibility, or a role with added requirements. The path depends on your employer, location, performance, and the type of security work you want to pursue.

Common questions from first-time applicants

How do you start a career in security?

Begin by checking common entry-level requirements, finding out whether your location requires a license, and applying for guard or unarmed officer roles. Some employers train people with no previous security experience through onboarding and site-specific instruction.

Is it hard to get a job in security?

Entry-level access may be possible without prior security work, especially where employers provide training. You still need to meet the employer's requirements and complete any licensing, fingerprint, application, or fee steps that apply locally.

How do you get into security with no experience?

Look for entry-level openings that mention training or no experience requirements. Use customer service, retail, hospitality, and similar work to show that you can communicate, follow rules, and handle people calmly.

One result on security jobs lists a national average salary of $34,101 per year for security guards. Treat that as a reference point, not a promise of what you'll earn. Pay can differ by employer, location, schedule, and role.

Before you apply, check your local licensing authority for the current rules. Then apply to several entry-level security openings that match your age, education, availability, and eligibility.